While many activists and in Congress cast Fast Track and the international agreements connected to them principally about “trade” and/or “jobs,” the core issue has always been about governance — specifically self-determination, self-rule, right to decide, sovereignty, democracy — whatever you want to call it.

That’s the emphasis in the letters we sent yesterday to several NE Ohio House members, urging them to oppose Fast Track.

Seen through a “democracy” prism, Fast Track can’t be made acceptable by simply adding a few more protections to workers here or decreasing a trade barrier or two there — since at its core Fast Track is about decreasing citizen power and increasing corporate power by challenging democratically enacted laws and regulations.

This is essential to remember if and when the next version of Fast Track is introduced.

In the meantime, thank you for doing your part to achieve this grassroots victory!